WATERTOWN, N.Y. — Twenty New York State families are sharing their homes with a young person or adult chaperone from Japan for one month this summer through the 4-H Youth Development program. The 4-H Japanese Exchange program is an initiative of the New York State 4-H Office at Cornell University, in cooperation with County Cornell Cooperative Extension offices around the State. The 18 Japanese youth, ages 12-15, and two adult chaperones, arrived at the Syracuse International Airport on Thursday, July 25th and connected with host families from all corners of New York State the next day. The Japanese youth will stay with the host families who have a child the same age until August 21st. The Japanese delegates departed from Syracuse on Friday, July 26nd after an arrival and welcome event with the host families at the Doubletree by Hilton Syracuse. The host families are located in 15 NYS Counties from Western NY, the Finger Lakes region, the Adirondacks and the Hudson Valley.
In Jefferson County the Darsan family is hosting Takuma Kawamura. Stephanie Graf, Youth and Family Program Leader shares, “We are excited to have the Darsan’s hosting Takuma this summer. To the best of our knowledge we have not had a 4-H family host an exchange student. This is the first time for us.” The Darsan family – Charles, Kazumi, Jyunia and Charlene participate in the 4-H Outdoor Adventure Club and the 4-H Teen Council in Jefferson County.
The New York State program is supported by a National nonprofit organization affiliated with 4-H called States’ 4-H International, based in Seattle Washington. States’ 4-H International works with 4-H programs in nearly 30 States to coordinate inbound and outbound cultural exchanges ranging from one month to 10 months between 4-H youth and youth from Japan, South Korea, Norway, Costa Rica and many more countries. The one month summer Japanese program will provide an opportunity for nearly 700 Japanese youth to experience life in the United States this summer. For more information on the program please visit www.States4hexchange.org
The goal of the 4-H International Exchange program is to encourage participating youth to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for cultural diversity, global connections and citizenship. 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization, reaching over 6 million youth through a community of young people across the U.S. and implemented through the Cooperative Extension System of the United States Department of Agriculture. The New York State 4-H program reaches over 170,000 youth per year, connecting them to hands-on learning opportunities in science, healthy living, civic engagement and agriculture and food systems. 4-H helps youth ages 5-19 from rural, suburban and urban communities grow into competent, caring, contributing members of society. 4-H programs reach youth in every New York State County and the five boroughs of New York City. For more information on 4-H Youth Development please visit https://nys4-h.org/.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Stephanie Graf at (315) 788-8450, . To learn more about Jefferson County 4-H please go to ccejefferson.org.
—Stephanie Graf, CCE Jefferson County